As the mercury rises and things heat up, your garden plants start to wilt under the constant onslaught of the hot temperatures. In this article, we will explore tips on watering your garden this summer. Learning how to water your plants properly will ensure their continued vitality. 

Learning the Best Ways to Water

Knowing how to water your landscape is essential. Remember, water of little value to the plant if it simply runs off the soil and away from the root system. Water runoff can happen if you apply too much water at once. Ideally, long, slow, and deep watering is the best way to soak the plant's root zone. The soil should become moist to a depth of six to 12 inches. 

Best Tips for Watering Your Garden

Here are a few of the best tips for watering your garden this summer:

• Water the root zone. Remember, the roots of the plant are what utilize the water and not leaves. Wetting the foliage wastes water and can also cause the spread of fungal diseases. 
• Only water when needed. Yes, automatic watering systems are excellent, but sometimes you might not need water if it has recently rained. You do not want to keep the soil overly moist, so your plants could develop root diseases and fungal infections. Too much water is often just as damaging as too little. 
• Water deeply. The root system of your lawn is usually within the top six inches of soil, but trees, shrubs, and perennials have a deep root system, so you'll want to water to a depth of 12 inches to supply the plants with sufficient irrigation. Ideally, you should apply the water slowly for a few hours to prevent runoff. 
• The best time to water is during the morning, so if you get moisture on the plant's leaves, they have time to dry out in the sunlight. Maintaining dry foliage helps prevent unwanted diseases.
• Apply a few inches of mulch around the base of your plants to prevent water runoff and evaporation. The mulch helps keep the soil moist even during hot afternoon temperatures. 
• Consider using a soaker hose or drip irrigation to ensure that the water is applied slowly so the soil can absorb the moisture like a sponge instead of causing runoff. 

How Much Water and How Often? 

Most vegetables require at least an inch of water per week to flourish. The water can be delivered either via rainfall or irrigation. You will apply six gallons of water per square yard of garden space eerie week. If there is no natural rainfall, you might have to apply water twice per week in sandy soils. However, in clay or loam, you can water once per week. 

Without a doubt, watering your plants is a necessary chore to ensure their continued health. However, you'll also need to maintain a regular nutrient application system. Please contact Humboldts to learn more about the many garden nutrients that have been used.